Maleficent stood before them. The family of vampires now shared the same quiet shocked expression. It took some time for Dracula to regain his composure and offer Maleficent a seat. Struggling for words, Dracula joined his wife and daughters who now sat across from Maleficent.

"Vhy have you come?" he finally managed.

"I came for answers," Maleficent began, "I want to know what happened to my daughter and why you've tried to hide Christina from me, why you're still trying,"

Dracula eyed her skeptically. He didn't want to tell her about it, he hadn't even told Christina about it despite how she pleaded to know.

"You don't want to tell me," Maleficent said suddenly, "I can see it in your face,"

"Your daughter didn't wish to talk about you, why should I talk about her?" Dracula challenged.

"Because I'm her mother and despite what she thought when she so abruptly left I never ever stopped loving her,"

Dracula still seemed reluctant to say anything.

So, Maleficent, to convince them, told a story she had never told anyone.

"Alissa's father was a human,"

There was a small gasp from the two girls seated on either side of their parents.

Seeing she had their interest, Maleficent continued her tale backing up to start at the beginning.

"I was part of an arranged marriage shortly after becoming queen of the dark fae. I never loved him, only had a child with him because it was expected of me so, Lucinda was born, her father and I separated shortly afterward I wanted nothing to do with him but, Alissa's father," Maleficent paused to collect herself, "We met a very long time ago before I was ever queen. Over time, he'd stolen my heart, told me he loved me but it was all a lie. As soon as he had me, he stole my wings in an attempt to become king of the nearby lands, he did of course and you can guess what happened next but he never knew of the child he'd gifted me with. I never blamed Alissa and I never will,"

The family of vampires tried to process while Maleficent continued.

"So you see, though her father betrayed me in the cruelest way, Alissa was conceived from my own true love. No matter how we argued as she got older, I never stopped loving her with all my heart. I may be evil, Lord Dracula, but I have never lied and always kept my word. And I swear I have no dark intentions toward Christina."

"It's not a good story," Dracula warned, relenting.

"And I haven't done good things in my life," Maleficent pointed out, "I command creatures that haunt nightmares, your point?"

Even though he would've liked to ignore it and change the subject, Dracula told Maleficent the story of her daughter's short time in this world of meeting Radu who was taken with her, in love at first sight, of their whirlwind courtship and fairy tale wedding. The wedding which was widely publicized and talked about, which led to the hunters coming for them. Alissa having to rush her pregnancy along with magic and how Christina barely three days old was placed into his care.

"They were so sure they vould be victorious, but they didn't dare risk Christina's safety. Radu pleaded with Alissa to stay behind but she was as stubborn as Christina is now and refused to let him go alone. I received word they'd passed on less than a week later,"

"And what of the hunter?"

"Van Hellscream caught and sent into exile with his followers. They can do no harm to us now,"

Then Maleficent said what Dracula had been dreading to hear.

"I want to see Christina,"

…...

Christina sat twiddling her thumbs, gazing out the window at the thin clouds that encircled Vincent's mountain home. The wind was nice no matter how sharp, the cold beginning to cut through her jacket, blowing her hair every which way. Up before sunrise, poring over the various spellbooks Vincent had provided her with, correcting tiny issues Vincent had written in to test her. Now, finished she was trying to decide what to do with herself.

"Like, you there, Christina?"

"Hey, Shaggy what's the matter?"

Shaggy was in wolf form again. He had been the last few times they talked.

"Nothing, nothing,"

"Then why are you-"

"Stress?" he offered.

"Okay," Christina nodded.

From the sound of her voice, she didn't sound convinced. And for a split second, he could just barely see her face. It was fuzzy but it was there,

"Shaggy?"

He snapped back to reality, nothing but light and dark, no shapes no details.

"What's wrong?" she asked again.

"I-I miss you, we all do,"

"I miss you too but that's no reason to get worked up,"

"Please sing me a song?"

"What do you want to hear?"

"Uh, a Disney song?"

"Okay," Christina grinned.

Who is that girl I see
Staring straight
Back at me?
Why is my reflection someone
I don't know?

Somehow I cannot hide
Who I am
Though I've tried
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?

"You sing really well," Shaggy gushed.

"You always say that, Shaggy,"

"It's true!"

Christina giggled, "If you say so,"

"Yes, sing another?"

"Okay,"

As she sang he tried his hardest to see her face. It came in short blurry bursts. Flickers of her smile, the light in her eyes, sparkles from her wings. Bits and pieces of sight that slowly formed a beautiful picture.

"What's with the smile, Shaggy?"

Calming down Shaggy reverted to normal ripping his glimpses of sight away from him. They only seemed to happen while in wolf form. It was a double-edged sword. Bittersweet.

"I like, said, you have a beautiful voice,"

"Sure, whatever you say, Shaggy,"

…...

"No," Dracula sternly replied.

"Why not?" Maleficent calmly challenged.

"One she isn't here and two, I am her guardian and I said no,"

Maleficent was entirely calm, spookily calm, "I know she isn't here, Dracula. You sent her away to keep her safe, she's studying her magic while away and her teacher, wise as he may be, doesn't understand fae magic as I do, only I can teach her,"

But Dracula stood firm in his decision. Maleficent, however, wasn't one to give up.

"I know about the dragonmark, Dracula, you know what it means but Christina doesn't,"

"She can learn," Dracula insisted.

"Not without my help," Maleficent responded, "Besides, there's something you don't know about that mark,"

Dracula scoffed.

"That mark is only given to one fae in every generation of my line AND only those with the mark can rule. Christina's my heir, the ONLY heir to my kingdom,"

"So you're saying-" Sibella began.

"That Christina's a-a Princess," Draculaura finished.

Maleficent nodded, "And while I may live forever I don't wish to rule forever. I want to train Christina, teach her so she can take the throne,"

"She's not even an adult yet!" Dracula protested.

"But she will be soon and by birthright, she takes over the kingdom once she's of age,"

Dracula slumped. "Fine, fine. You can meet her but I can't-"

"Bring her back until it's safe I know, I'll pay her a visit on my own,"

and she was gone before Dracula could change his mind.

…...

In order to bring Christina home, Shaggy had to gather evidence and build n iron-clad case against Drew. One that would land him and hopefully his mother behind bars. After all, the abuse of power was clear, the physical abuse to Christina was somewhat documented but he needed more. He needed help.

He needed the gang.